Juncker calls for 300 billion euro investment plan for Europe

Jean-Claude Juncker called for a 300 billion euro investment plan for Europe as he laid out his vision for the future if elected Tuesday by parliament as the head of the EU executive.

15.07.2014

Jean-Claude Juncker (C), former Prime Minister of Luxembourg and the next head of the European Commission, gesgures during a meeting with the Socialists & Democrats (S&D) Group with S&D President Gianni Pittella (L) at European Union (EU) Headquarters in Brussels on July 8, 2014. AFP PHOTO/JOHN THYS

Strasbourg

(ARP) Jean-Claude Juncker called for a 300 billion euro investment plan for Europe as he laid out his vision for the future if elected Tuesday by parliament as head of the EU executive.

"We need a programme to enhance growth and competitiveness," said the former Luxembourg premier as he called for a massive three-year investment programme to revitalise and re-industrialise the European Union.

"There is a 29th member of the EU emerging, the state of those without jobs. I would like this 29th member to be integrated with the others, and I propose an ambitious investment programme to do that," said Juncker before parliament was to vote on his candidacy to lead the EU executive.

"The EU lost competitiveness because it was stuck in neutral, it must once again move forward," he said, but "we must not achieve that at the expense of social policies."